The need for intranasal packing in endoscopic endonasal surgery.

Conclusion: The present findings indicate that conventional nasal packing is not required for endoscopic endonasal surgery.

Objectives: To evaluate the routine use of packing in endoscopic endonasal surgery.

Methods: From January 2006 through January 2009, 146 consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal surgery performed by the same surgeon in Kyoto University Hospital were evaluated. The surgical procedure was ended with conventional gauze packing in 70 consecutive patients from January 2006 through August 2007 (Packing group), and placing of oxidized cellulose on operative sites was performed in 76 consecutive patients from September 2007 to January 2009 (Non-packing group). We analyzed demographic characteristics, comorbidities, surgical procedures, incidence of packing the nose after excessive postoperative bleeding, and occurrence of postoperative adhesion.

Results: No significant differences in the demographic characteristics, except for gender, and in comorbidities were found between the two groups. The number of endoscopic sinus surgery procedures with septoplasty and/or turbinoplasty, or tumor extirpation in the Non-packing group was significantly larger than that in the Packing group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative bleeding or postoperative adhesion between the two groups.